Gabrielle Smith

Professor Miller
March 18, 2014
English 103

Midterm

The Gettysburg address is a speech given by Abraham Lincoln, in an attempt
to stop the violence that was happening during the civil war, and restore the peace
back in a once unified nation. The first few lines in Lincolns address were about the
founding fathers, which establishes a strong ethos. Lincoln states Four scores and
seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation. Ethos is
present in the very beginning by Lincoln by calling upon the founding fathers to
state what they had intended for their new nation, which was contrary to what was
present at the time. Ethos also help to concluded his speech what he says that this
nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Lincoln is now
bringing the all mighty in to help remind people that the nation is unified under god
and help to bring back the integrity.
Lincoln uses his knowledge of the events that had happened and his logic to
further gain control of his nation. Logos is used what Lincoln says Now we are
engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived
and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We
have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who
here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this. Lincoln is basically saying that the nation was fighting a
civil war to test if a nation built on the equality of men can long endure. Lincoln
urged Americans to stay focused on keeping the union together so that democracy
could survive.
Finally Lincoln concluded his speech with pathos. Lincoln states We cannot
dedicatewe cannot consecratewe cannot hallowthis ground. The brave men,
living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power
to add or detract. By using emotionally charged words, like dedicate, consecrate,
hallow, and struggled, Lincoln is able to get his audience to empathize with him
which was one of his many strengths through out the speech.